JPH11265032A - Radiation image recording and reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To urgently read for the purpose of diagnosing an emergency patient even in the midst of reserved reading. SOLUTION: This radiation image recording and reading device 1 is equipped with a cassette loading part 3 where a cassette to house a recording plate with a radiation image is loaded, an image reading means 5 for reading image information from the recording plate, and a carrying means 4 for carrying the recording plate between the loaded cassette and the image reading means; and is provided with a reading reservation mode for reserving the reading of the recording plate by a carrying means and the image reading means and for reading in reservation order, and an urgent reading mode for reading prior to the reading reservation mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation image recording reading apparatus which reads a radiation image stored in a radiation image conversion plate, converts the radiation image into a digital signal, and displays or stores the image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cassette accommodating a radiation image conversion plate has been loaded into an imaging apparatus for the purpose of medical examination, and X-ray imaging has been performed. There is known a radiation image recording reading apparatus which converts a radiation image recorded in a digital image into a digital signal and reads it.

In such a radiation image recording and reading apparatus, the processing of reading radiation images from a radiation image conversion plate is usually performed in the order of reading reservations from the X-ray imaging side, so that the handling is facilitated and quick processing is possible. Becomes possible.

[0004] However, there are cases where reading processing must be performed urgently for the purpose of diagnosis of an emergency patient or the like during execution of scheduled reading. Further, in a radiation image recording and reading apparatus capable of performing a reading process by loading a plurality of cassettes, it is not known which cassette is in which reading process state (for example, reading standby, reading, and reading completed). If not know it withdraw any cassettes for loading the cassette for emergency reading.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiation image recording and reading apparatus which can execute reading processing urgently for diagnosis of an emergency patient even during execution of scheduled reading. is there.

In addition, when a reading process is performed by loading a plurality of cassettes, a radiation image recording / reading apparatus capable of knowing the reading process status of the cassette and quickly and accurately loading a cassette for emergency reading is provided. That is.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cassette loading section for loading a cassette containing a recording plate on which a radiation image is recorded, and reading image information from the recording plate. A radiation image recording / reading apparatus comprising: image reading means for transporting the recording plate between the loaded cassette and the image reading means. The present invention is characterized in that it has a reading reservation mode in which the reading process of the recording plate is reserved and the reading process is executed in the reservation order, and an emergency reading mode in which the reading process is executed prior to the reading reservation mode.

According to the present invention, the emergency reading mode has priority over the reading reservation mode. Therefore, even when the reading process is executed in the order of reservation, the emergency reading can be quickly executed. For this reason, it becomes possible to perform reading processing urgently for diagnosis of an emergency patient and the like.

[0009] Further, there is provided input means for inputting information,
The emergency reading mode can be selected by the input unit. Thereby, the reading mode of the apparatus can be easily changed to the emergency reading mode.

[0010] The cassette may be provided with identification means for the emergency reading mode, and when the cassette is loaded in the cassette loading section, the emergency reading mode may be selected by identifying the identification means. This allows
Since the reading mode of the apparatus can be changed to the emergency reading mode only by loading the cassette for emergency reading into the cassette loading section, the operation of the apparatus at the time of emergency reading becomes easy and convenient.

Further, the reading process in the emergency reading mode can be executed after the reading process in the reserved reading mode is completed. According to this, when the reading in the emergency reading mode is being performed in the reserved reading mode, the reading can be performed after the completion of the reading process, so that the reading processes in both modes are not mixed.

The cassette loading section can be configured to load a plurality of cassettes.

[0013] A display means for displaying a reading processing state of the loaded cassette may be provided. According to this, when reading processing is performed by loading a plurality of cassettes, the reading processing state of the cassette can be known by this display means, so that the cassette for emergency reading can be quickly and accurately loaded into the cassette loading section. can do.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a radiation image recording and reading apparatus main body according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cassette loaded in the apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the radiation image conversion plate stored in the cassette shown in FIG. 2 is pulled out. FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the radiation image conversion plate is stored in the cassette in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cassette shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the radiation image recording and reading apparatus. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus 1 of FIG.
The apparatus main body 2 includes a cassette stacker unit 3, a plate transport unit 4, an image reading unit 5, a system control unit 6, an operation unit 7, and a power supply unit 8.

The cassette stacker section 3 is configured such that a plurality of types of cassettes 9 each containing a radiation image conversion plate 12 can be loaded as shown in FIGS. The radiation image conversion plate 12 has, for example, a stimulable phosphor layer, and the stimulable phosphor layer can be formed on the radiation image conversion plate 12 by, for example, a vapor deposition method or a coating method. When irradiating radiation from the radiation source to the radiation image conversion plate 12 via the subject in another radiation imaging apparatus, the stimulable phosphor layer forms a radiation transmittance distribution of the subject with respect to the radiation dose from the radiation source. To form a latent image as image information. Note that the stimulable phosphor layer is shielded or covered by a protective member in order to block adverse effects and damage due to the environment.

The plate transport unit 4 is located below the cassette stacker unit 3 and transports the radiation image conversion plate 12 between the cassette position in the cassette stacker unit 3 and the image reading unit 5. That is, after the radiation conversion plate 12 in the cassette 9 is pulled out, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is transported downward in the vertical direction V in FIG. Transport to The radiation image conversion plate 12 from which the image reading by the image reading unit 5 has been completed is conveyed in the H ′ direction and the V ′ direction, follows the reverse path, and is stored in the original cassette 9.

The image reading section 5 is located below the scanning section 7 and includes a sub-scanning section and a main scanning section. The sub-scanning section conveys the main scanning section in the sub-scanning direction. The main scanning unit performs laser scanning on the radiation image conversion plate 12 while being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, thereby reading image information recorded on the radiation image conversion plate 12.

The system control section 6 includes a main CPU for controlling the entire apparatus, image processing, output control, image management and storage section control, the cassette stacker section 3, the plate transport section 4, the image reading section 5 and the like. A reading control unit and an image input control unit for controlling the reading control unit; The image information read by the image reading unit 5 is sent to the main CPU. The operation unit 7 includes a CRT 70 and a touch panel 71 provided on the surface of the CRT 70 as shown in FIG. 6. Command information input from the touch panel 71 is sent to the main CPU of the system control unit 6. Each control is performed based on.

As shown in FIG. 1, an erasing section 13 having an erasing light source for erasing image recording on the radiation image conversion plate 12 is disposed above the plate transport section 4. As this erasing light source, for example, two 300 W halogen lamps can be used, and erasing light from this light source can be applied to the radiation conversion plate 12 to erase an afterimage. The elimination of the afterimage means that the radiation image conversion plate 12 is irradiated with erasing light to emit radiation energy remaining on the radiation image conversion plate 12 after the image reading unit 5 reads an image by laser beam scanning. That is. This erasing operation is performed when the radiation image conversion plate 12 is transported by the plate transport unit 4 in the vertical direction V ′ and returned to the original cassette 9. That is, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is stored in the cassette 9 of the cassette stacker unit 3 while erasing the image on the radiation image plate 12.

Next, the configuration and operation of the cassette will be further described. As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette 9 is composed of a plurality of screws 9 around the case halves 900 and 901 together.
The outer frame is formed in a rectangular shape by tightening and integrating the outer frame. On one end of the cassette 9,
An opening 903 is formed, and the radiation image conversion plate 12 is configured to be able to be pulled out from the opening 903.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radiation image conversion plate 12 is provided with a rigid tray 90 in the cassette 9.
4 is fixed. As shown in FIG. 4, the tray 904 is provided with a pair of locking pins 905 corresponding to the area of the radiation image conversion plate 12 where no image is recorded. The locking pin 905 penetrates the radiation image conversion plate. A guide plate 906 is arranged to guide the pair of locking pins 905, and the locking pins 905 are slidable in guide holes 906a formed in an elongated shape. Opening 9 of this guide plate 906
A cap 907 formed to cover and close the opening 903 is attached to the 03 side.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the cap 907 has a built-in lock mechanism 908 for keeping the cap 907 closed. It is configured so that the locked state can be released. A pair of levers 910 is provided on the end face side of the cap portion 907. In a state where the lock mechanism 908 is released, a claw portion (not shown) of an arm provided outside is engaged with a pair of levers 910, and then the arm (not shown) moves in the arrow direction a of FIG. Then, the guide plate 906 is formed together with the cap portion 907.
Moves in the arrow direction b in FIG. Then, after the end of the guide hole 906a of the guide plate 906 comes into contact with the pair of locking pins 905 as shown by the broken line in FIG.
When the arm further moves, the tray 4 and the radiation image conversion plate 12 are pulled out together with the locking pins 905 as shown in FIG. Further, the radiation image conversion plate 12 can be stored in the cassette again together with the tray 4 by the operation reverse to the above.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, on the surface of the case half 900 of the cassette 9, an identification seal 911 having predetermined identification information constituted by a white portion and a black portion is attached. The identification sticker 911 records the type, size, photographing condition, and the like of the cassette 9 as identification information, and the detection of the identification sticker 911 allows detection of erroneous insertion of the cassette 9 into the cassette stacker unit 3. It can be carried out. Further, by providing a black portion at a position as shown in FIG.
11a.

An arrow mark 912 is formed on the cassette 9 as shown in FIGS.
The cassette 9 is inserted into the cassette stacker unit 3 in the direction of the arrow. This allows the user of the apparatus to know the direction in which the cassette 9 is inserted, but also, for example, sets the outer surface of the cap portion 907 of the cassette 9 to a different color,
By inserting the cap 907 with the cap 907 facing down, the operation can be performed so that the inserting direction is not mistaken.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a concave portion 900a is formed on the surface of the half case 900 of the cassette 9, and a medical record clip 913 is provided in the concave portion 900a. A medical record sheet, a doctor's instruction, or the like can be held between the concave portion 900a and the clip 913 and held.

Next, the cassette stacker unit 3 and the operation unit 7
Will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the cassette stacker unit 3 is provided on the upper right side of the radiation image recording and reading apparatus 1 and includes a cassette insertion unit 300 provided with a plurality of slots into which the cassette 9 is inserted. The operation unit 7 is arranged near the cassette stacker unit 3 in the upper part of the apparatus 1. With this arrangement, the cassette 9 can be loaded into the loading section 300 of the cassette stacker section 3 while performing a predetermined operation with the operation section 7, so that the operation is easy.

The input section 300 of the cassette stacker section 3
Storage section 3 for storing input guide section 301 and cassette 9
02. The loading guide unit 301 includes a storage unit 3002
And is configured to guide the cassette 9 to the storage portion 302 while maintaining a horizontal state.
The cassette 9 is housed and held in the housing section 302 with a predetermined gap kept therebetween.

The cassette 9 is inserted in the direction of the arrow 912 in FIG. 5 with the long side of the cassette being horizontal, and is inserted into the storage section 302 while sliding on the guide section 301 in FIG. At the same time as this insertion, the storage unit 30
The light-blocking shutter 303 provided in the second opening is closed to prevent light leakage from the outside. At this time, a reading sensor (not shown) disposed in the storage section 302 is used to identify the identification seal 91.
By reading 1, the insertion direction of the cassette and the front and back sides thereof are determined, and if the cassette is inserted incorrectly, the light emitting unit 304 provided at the top of each storage unit 302 emits light to notify the user. It has become. In addition, the light emitting unit 304 emits light of another color during the reading process of the cassette to notify that the reading process is being performed. Further, a warning by a buzzer or the like may be issued at the time of incorrect insertion.

The operation unit 7 has a CRT 70 as a display unit and a touch panel 71 arranged on the surface of the CRT 70. On the CRT 70, for example, operations such as examination reservation and patient registration, the states and settings of each unit of the apparatus, and each display of a read image can be performed. Further, predetermined information can be input by touching and pressing the surface of the touch panel 71 by the user.

The storage section controlled by the system control section 6 of the radiation image recording and reading apparatus 1 stores and registers patient information, imaging conditions, input information, output information, processing information, order information, and the like as an imaging reservation list. Have been. A radiation image is read from the radiation image conversion plate 12 in each cassette 9 based on the imaging reservation list, and a reading process is performed. Further, each information of the reservation photographing list can be referred to on the CRT 70 as necessary, and the contents can be changed from the touch panel 71.

The radiation image recording and reading apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
There is a reserved reading mode in which cassette reading processing is performed in the order of reading reservation, and an emergency reading mode in which cassette reading processing is performed prior to reading reservation. FIG. 7A shows a screen on the CRT 70 which displays the order of reservation of the photographing reservation list, which is a basic screen in the reserved reading mode, and FIG. 7B shows a reservation information reference / correction screen.

As shown in FIG. 7 (a), FIG.
Are displayed in the order of the patients 701, 702, 703, and 704 in the photographing reservation list input on the reservation screen, and the cassette reading process is executed in this order. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the reservation information can be corrected from the input screen 705 while referring to the reservation information on the input screen 705. This reservation information reference / modification screen
This is displayed by touching the “reference” switch 721 in FIG. Also, by touching the “menu” switch 722 from the screen of FIG. 7B, it is possible to return to the screen of FIG. 7A. It should be noted that the input to the photographing reservation list can also be made online from outside such as a hospital or an information system.

FIG. 8 shows a screen on the CRT 70 for displaying a cassette reading process state. This screen has a reservation screen 7
07 is displayed, and conditions representing the patient's name, ID (identification) number, gender, imaging part such as the chest and abdomen, and the like are displayed for each patient. The display unit 707 displays the ID number and the like of the patient undergoing the reading process, and the lower display units 708, 709, and 710 display the patient ID numbers and the like in the reading process order. The screen shown in FIG.
The information can be displayed by touching the “read” switch 721a in FIG.

The storage section 30 of the cassette stacker section 3 shown in FIG.
When the photographed cassette 9 is inserted into 2, the patient's ID number and the like attached to the cassette are automatically read, and the inserted cassette and the reservation order are associated with each other, and then the reading process is started. This reading state is displayed on the reading state display sections 711 to 715 for each slot of the storage section 302. The display includes reading preparation, reading, reading completed,
There are reading incompletion, trouble occurrence, etc.
This can be done by changing the emission color of No. 15 or blinking it. As described above, the reading state display units 711 to 715
Since the state of the reading process of the cassette can be known by providing the cassette, the cassette in which the reading has been completed can be taken out, the next cassette can be put in, and the preparation for reading can be sequentially performed, thereby enabling the quick reading process. During the reading of the cassette, removal of the loaded cassette is prohibited, and the cassette can be removed in each of the reading completed, reading not completed, and trouble occurrence states.

Next, in the radiation image recording and reading apparatus,
A case will be described in which a cassette such as an urgent patient must be urgently read during a scheduled reading mode in which the cassettes are read in the order of reading reservation. The emergency reading mode is selected by pressing the “emergency” switch 720a in FIG. 7A or the “urgent reading” switch 720 in FIG. These emergency read switches 720
When a, 720 is selected, its display blinks, so that it can be recognized that the emergency reading mode is set.

When the cassette for emergency reading is inserted into the cassette stacker section 3, the identification sticker 911 shown in FIG.
Is read, the emergency sign 911a is read, and the cassette is recognized as an emergency reading cassette. Also,
When the emergency reading mode is selected, a reservation information reference / correction screen shown in FIG. 7B is displayed on the CRT 70, and a predetermined item is touch-input on the input screen 705.

When the emergency sign 911a of the identification sticker 911 on the cassette 9 is read, the apparatus can be automatically set to the emergency reading mode. Thus, the emergency reading mode can be set only by inserting the cassette without pressing the switches 720a and 720 each time emergency reading is performed. Further, in order to distinguish the cassette for emergency reading from the one for reserved reading, for example, the sides of the cassette may be configured in different colors.

When the cassette for emergency reading is inserted into the storage section 302 of the cassette stacker section 3,
Since the reading state of the cassette is displayed on the reading state display sections 711 to 715 for each slot of No. 02, the reading processing state of the cassette loaded in each slot can be known from this display, and the reading processing for emergency reading can be performed. The cassette can be quickly and accurately loaded into the slot of the storage section 302.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, the reading process in the reserved reading mode and the emergency reading mode in which the cassette reading process is performed prior to the reading reservation according to the present embodiment will be described. As described above, it is determined whether or not the apparatus is in the emergency reading mode by pressing the emergency reading switches 720 and 720a or the like (S01). It is determined whether or not it has been performed (S02). When it is loaded, the emergency reading switches 720 and 720a are blinked red to indicate that the mode is the emergency mode (S09), and after the predetermined items are inputted as described above, the reserved After reading the cassette is completed (S10), an image reading process is urgently performed (S03). If there is another cassette for emergency reading, the reading is subsequently performed (S04). If not, the emergency reading switches 720 and 720a are turned off in red to display the end of emergency reading (S05).
In addition, a warning sound may be emitted by a buzzer or the like in order to notify the end of the emergency reading.

Next, the flow returns to step S01 to determine again whether the mode is the emergency reading mode. If the mode is not the emergency reading mode, the mode is set to the reserved reading mode (S06). If the cassette for reserved reading is loaded (S07), the image of the cassette is read (S08), and if not, the reading process ends. When the reading of the cassette for the reserved reading (S08) is completed, the process returns to step S01 to determine whether the mode is the emergency reading mode.

According to the above-described reading processing according to the present embodiment, each time the reading in the reserved reading mode is completed for each cassette, it is determined whether or not the emergency reading mode is set. Even if it remains, reading processing is performed on the cassette for emergency reading prior to this reading reservation. For this reason, the radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to the present embodiment can promptly respond to an emergency reading such as an urgent patient diagnosis must be performed immediately.

As shown in FIG. 6, in a radiation image recording and reading apparatus capable of sequentially performing reading processing by loading a plurality of cassettes, reading in the emergency reading mode is performed after the reading processing in the reserved reading mode is completed. Since the process is executed, there is no problem that the reading processes in both modes are mixed.

Next, FIGS. 10A and 10B show two examples of a modification of the emergency identification means provided in the cassette 9 for switching to the emergency reading mode when the cassette 9 is inserted. In the cassette 9 of FIG. 10, a character 921 of "urgent" is displayed. By providing an optical sensor (not shown) capable of reading the character 921 of "urgent" in the apparatus, the emergency reading mode can be automatically set when this character is read when the cassette is inserted. Note that the patient name can be read by the optical sensor.

Further, a notch 920 is provided on a side surface of the cassette 9 in the loading direction in FIG. 10, and the notch 920 is provided in the apparatus.
By providing a detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the presence of the notch, the emergency reading mode can be automatically set by detecting the presence of the notch when the cassette is inserted.

[0045]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a radiation image recording / reading apparatus capable of executing a cassette reading process urgently for diagnosis of an emergency patient or the like even during execution of a scheduled reading.

When a plurality of cassettes are loaded and a reading process is performed, it is possible to provide a radiation image recording / reading apparatus capable of knowing the reading process status of the cassette and quickly and accurately loading a cassette for emergency reading. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a radiation image recording / reading apparatus main body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cassette loaded in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a radiation image conversion plate stored in the cassette shown in FIG. 2 is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a radiation image conversion plate is housed in the cassette of FIG. 2, omitting an upper case half.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cassette shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the radiation image recording and reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

7A is a diagram illustrating a basic screen of a reservation reading mode displayed on the CRT of the operation unit in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a reservation information reference / modification screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen displaying a cassette reading process state on a CRT of the operation unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining steps of a reading process in a reserved reading mode and an emergency reading mode according to the present embodiment that can be executed by the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a cassette showing a modification of the cassette of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 radiation image recording / reading apparatus 2 apparatus main body 3 cassette stacker section (cassette loading section) 4 plate transport section (transport section) 5 image reading section (image reading section) 6 system control section 7 operation section 8 power supply section 9 cassette 12 radiation image Conversion plate (recording plate) 70 CRT 71 Touch panel (input means) 711 to 715 Reading state display section 720, 720a Emergency reading switch 911a Emergency sign 920, 921 Emergency identification means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cassette loading section on which a cassette containing a recording plate on which a radiation image is recorded is loaded, image reading means for reading image information from the recording plate, the loaded cassette and the image reading. A radiation image recording and reading apparatus comprising: a transport unit that transports the recording plate to and from the unit; a reading unit that reserves a reading process of the recording plate by the transport unit and the image reading unit, and performs a reading process in a reservation order A radiation image recording and reading apparatus having a reservation mode and an emergency reading mode for executing a reading process prior to the reading reservation mode. 2. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit for inputting information, wherein said emergency reading mode is selected by said input unit. 3. The emergency reading mode is identified by identifying the identifying means when the cassette is loaded in the cassette loading section, wherein the emergency reading mode is selected. Or the radiation image recording and reading device according to 2. 4. The reading process in the emergency reading mode,
4. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is executed after the reading processing in the reserved reading mode is completed. 5. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of cassettes are loaded in the cassette loading section. 6. The radiation image recording and reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying a reading processing state of the loaded cassette.